Online Casino Score

Casino Rewards is currently the largest network of online casinos and continues to grow. Over the past several months, the group has been acquiring a variety of brands for a total number of 30 online casinos. All brands are powered by Microgaming and licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Each week a newsletter is released which announces promotions and other news. The most recent newsletter discussed the latest Casino Rewards mega promotion.

$10 Million Giveaway

The newsletter specifically states, “Week one of the $10 Million Giveaway has come and gone and we managed to give out an incredible $1.2 Million! We hope you were happy with your share from the weekly progressive draw.” This means for every $50 deposited between Friday, August 19th and October 12th, player’s share of winnings will increase. Therefore, players can control the amount of money they receive from this gigantic promotion.

Fighting Fish Online Slot Game

Another promotion that recently ran was based on the Fighting Fish online slot game. The symbols are comically crafted to feature an underwater boxing match and feature free spins and gamble games. Also, the jackpot is fixed at $5,000 coins. The promotional period began on Saturday, August 20th and ended the following day. On each of the two days, ten players were randomly selected to win $100.

Silver Fang Online Slot Game

The third major promotion offered by the casino is being played on the Silver Fang online slot game which features 1,000 coin jackpot and betting denominations of $0.01 to $0.05. The graphics and sounds give an eerie feeling which adds to the excitement. The promotion began Saturday, August 20th and will end Thursday, August 25th. The top five bettors each day during that period will receive $100 into their account.

Biggest Recent Wins

On a side note, during the last week the biggest wins at the casino have been on Multihand Spanish Blackjack and on Aces and Faces video poker. One player won 80,000 Euros at Spanish Blackjack at the UK Casino Club while two other players at the Golden Tiger Casino won 60,000 Euros and 30,000 Euros respectively.

There are many major promotions being conducted during the month of August at all Casino Rewards brands. The best aspect is they do not require a major financial commitment to win. These promotions have certainly increased the amount of traffic at all participating online casinos.

Virgin Casino has not released any video poker variants in quite some time. The casino currently offers few versions of the game so the recent launch of new video poker variants is a welcomed surprise. The new video poker games were developed by Microgaming and can be accessed directly through the QuickFire platform.

Aces and Eights

The first new video poker variant is Aces and Eights which is characterized by a high payout for four-of-a-kind (aces or eights) which equates to more than a straight-flush. The payout is 80 times the original wager. Also, four-of-a-kind sevens features a special payout of 50 times the original bet. To compensate for the unusually high payouts, all other four-of-a-kind combinations only pay out 20 times the bet. The payout table has been enhanced to provide players with a 99.09 percent return.

Microgaming Features

Aces and Eights also offers players the typical Microgaming features such as the ability to wager up to five coins per hand. The advantage of this bet is the payout for a royal flush equals 4,000 coins. This is significantly more than the usual payout of 250 coins at 4 coins wagered. Also, the video poker gamble game is available which allows players to double their payouts.

Aces and Eights Specifics

The game offers a coin denomination between 0.25 credits and 5.00 credits. The minimum wager, which equates to 0.25 credits, is 1 coin. The maximum bet of five coins is equal to 25.00 credits. The maximum payout for the jackpot is set at 20,000 credits.

Bonus Deuces Wild

The second video poker variant is Bonus Deuces Wild which is similar to Jacks or Better. The two primary differences are the twos act as wild card and special payouts can be acquired for specific poker hand rankings. The natural royal flush pays at 800 coins for each coin wagered. However, when the maximum of five coins are bet, the payout for the jackpot is 5,000 coins. The payouts decrease from this point to five-of-a-kind sixes through kings. The player return at Bonus Deuces Wild is 99.15 percent.

Licensed by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, Virgin Casino offers a variety of online casino games through several software developers utilizing their GTS platform. The two new video poker variants are a welcomed change to the casino as there are currently only a few versions of the popular competition.

Vegas Palms online casino recently released its list of the hottest games for June 2011. Blackjack variants significantly grew in popularity during the month which is not surprising since the game has the lowest house edge. The two hottest blackjack variants are European Blackjack and Classic Blackjack Gold.

European Blackjack and Classic Blackjack Gold

The dealer in both versions of the game does not check for blackjack until after all cards are dealt. This is a disadvantage because if a player doubles or splits and the dealer acquires blackjack, the player will lose more than just their original wager. Classic Blackjack Gold is also popular due to being the only variant in the industry played with a single deck. This gives the player a significant advantage.

Live Dealer Roulette

The casino offers live dealer games where casino operations are conducted and streamed across the Internet. Since Roulette is one of the most popular games at land casinos, Live Dealer Roulette is also one of the hottest games in June at the casino.

Popular Online Slot Games

The remaining game types on the list are online slots. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Thunderstruck II are two of the most popular games at all Microgaming-powered casinos. Released in the summer of 2010, both games have drawn a significant amount of traffic since. Another popular game on the list is Gold Factory which was only released last month by has become an instant classic due to the multi-level bonus game.

Surprising Games

Whenever the list is released, there is always a game that surprises the casino and public. In this instance, Burning Desire and Big Top are the two surprises. Burning Desire is a Valentine’s Day-theme game. However, since the list is for June, it is unexpected. However, the game is historically important as it was the first to introduce the 243 ways to win concept which defined the online slot game industry.

Big Top is also a major surprise because it is an early release from Microgaming with only nine paylines and no bonus round or free spins game. The only redeeming feature that has confirmed its popularity is the circus theme.

As part of the Fortune Lounge group, Vegas Palms is offers players a variety of games. Many of the most popular games on the list for June 2011 came as no surprise while others were shocking. However, the list proves that Vegas Palms continues to be a flourishing online gaming entity.

Powered by Microgaming software, Jackpot City is an online casino that provides a variety of slot games and tournaments. One of the most popular is the upcoming blackjack tournament entitled “Survivor.” The first 250 players to register will receive a seat to participate. Although unlikely, if less than 14 players enroll, the tournament will be canceled.

Prize Pool

The tournament will be playing six deck European Blackjack with an entry fee of $20 and a guaranteed prize pool of $280 which will be shared by the top three winners. The first place prize is $130, second place will receive $90 and third place will be awarded $60. Although there are not large prizes, the competition is only 249 other players.

Survivor Blackjack Tournament Structure

The event is played over three rounds with only ten players surviving the first round. Each player will begin with 2,500 chips with a minimum wager of 10 chips and a maximum of 250 chips. The first round consists of only eight hands. In the second round, the top six players will advance. Each player begins with 3,500 chips with a minimum wager of 50 chips and a maximum of 500 chips. The second round is also comprised of only eight hands.

As expected, the final round has the most fierce competition among players. Only six hands are played throughout the entire round. Players begin with 5,000 chips and the minimum wager is 100 chips with a maximum wager of 1,000 chips. The top three players in this round will share the entire prize pool.

Double Exposure

For those blackjack players that do no like tournaments, there are a variety of other blackjack variants available at Jackpot City Casino. For instance, Double Exposure is a version that is easy for newcomers because both of the dealer’s cards are face-up. This makes for a much easier decision. However, to compensate for this edge, blackjack only pays even money.

Pontoon

A more challenging blackjack variant is Pontoon. This version is the exact opposite of Double Exposure in that both of the dealer’s cards are face-down. However, the player is compensated with blackjack that pays 2-to-1.

The Survivor Blackjack Tournament at Jackpot City online casino always draws the maximum 250 people due to the chances of winning. Stop by the casino today to try your luck at the tournament or one of the many other blackjack variants.

Launched by Microgaming, Eagle’s Wings slot game is a visually appealing masterpiece. The game begins with an introductory clip that displays the flight of an eagle over snow capped mountains, coniferous forests and reflective lakes. The clip ends with a close up of the eagle. An underlying theme is the eagle’s relationship with nature and American Indians.

Important Symbols

There are two important eagle symbols in the game: a close up of the bird and the bird in flight. Other thematic symbols include eagle’s fledgling from their nest and the salmon symbol. Additionally, there are high value characters in the game from Ace to Jack; each of which carries an eagle wing feather in an Indian head dress style. The wild symbol is the Eagle’s Wings logo and the Lucky Eagle Coin is the scatter symbol.

Beautiful Animations

The animations continue throughout the game after the introductory clip. One incredible animation is when the flying eagle swoops down to the river and grabs a salmon in its claws. Also, salmon jump out of the lake at the base of a snow capped mountain. Throughout the game, the background music is inspiring and maintains consistent with the pride of the eagle.

Advantages of the Game

Eagle’s Wings has a variety of benefits for the player. First, the game allows for the stacking of wild symbols. The wild icon substitutes for all other symbols excluding the scatter character. Also, the Eagle’s Wing logo doubles payouts during a winning combination. A stack of three wild symbols across the first or second reel can lead to large payouts.

Second, the free spins bonus round offers a maximum of 60 free spins. The round can be triggered by three or more Lucky Eagle Coins anywhere on the reels. Players must select the coins to determine the number of free spins to be awarded. All payouts are three times the amount displayed in the payout table and winnings are capped at 15,000 coins.

Disadvantages of the Game

On the downside, there are two minor limitations to the game. First, Eagle’ Wings does not feature a progressive jackpot like most other online slot games. Second, the fixed jackpot payouts are low. However, this is balanced by the bonus rounds with large payouts. These two disadvantages are minor when compared with the many advantages.

Eagle’s Wings is an incredible game with large payouts, exciting bonus rounds and exquisite animations. This game is an instant classic and could be one of Microgaming’s best releases yet.

Industry-leading online gaming software developer, Microgaming, recently released its second multiplayer slot game at its casinos. “No Worries” is the newest multiplayer offering. The first multiplayer slot game, “Multiplayer Wheel of Wealth” had resounding success. No Worries features an Australian-theme and is based on the single player No Worries online slot game.

How the Multiplayer Feature Works

The built-in multiplayer feature groups players into virtual rooms based on desired wagering amounts. Each digital room can hold up to 30 players. Each player in the room only has visual access to their own online slot game but has the ability to chat with others in the room. As players wager on the game, they earn points. Once at least three points are earned, the total sum will be transferred to the leader board with a ranking.

Aussie Windmill Pump Bonus

These positions are important for the Aussie Windmill Pump bonus round which is triggered in specified intervals. The bonus round features an 18 segment wheel displaying five different Australian animals. Each animal is representative of a percentage of the jackpot with a minimum of 10 percent and maximum 100 percent. The top ten players on the leader board will share the jackpot based on their position.

No Worries Game Information

No Worries boasts 20 paylines and allows wagering designations between $0.01 and $20 per spin. The background for the game is set in the Australian Outback. The majority of symbols on the reels are of indigenous Australian animals comically crafted. These include Wallaby, Platypus, Koala, Kookaburra, Wombat and Tasmanian devil.

The scatter symbol is represented by the boomerang and the No Worries logo acts as the wild symbol. High value card letters are crafter in an Aboriginal style. Most characters on the reels become animated when part of a winning combination. For instance, the Kookaburra plays the didgeridoo. The consistent background music is upbeat and fun which compliments the game.

No Worries Availability

No Worries Multiplayer is available at all Microgaming-powered online casinos such as Spin Palace, River Belle, All Jackpots and Royal Vegas. To access the game at any of these casinos simply navigate to the “Multiplayer and Tournaments” section in the Game Lobby. Then players must access the Multiplayer tab and double-click on the game icon.

No Worries Multiplayer is a much more exciting game than the original. Multiplayer slot game action is a growing trend amongst online casinos and subsequent games. In the near future, many older slot games will be converted to multiplayer.

Experts have noticed a lull in online gaming software development during the month of May 2011. As the close of the month approaches, the number of new games released has been below the average compared with previous years. It has not yet been revealed whether this is a coincidence or the calm before the storm.

Microgaming

In the past, Microgaming has been the first provider to release new games each month. These games are typically launched toward the end of the first week or beginning of the second week. Also, new games are usually announced a month before release. Unfortunately there were no new announcements in April for May.

This is likely due to the Grand Slam of Slot II Tournament, hosted by Microgaming. The company does not want to divert attention away from the competition. Since the tournament ends in at the beginning of June, there may not be any additional slot games released for that month either.

Cryptologic

Cryptologic has also not released any new games. However, the company has not gone live with any new slots for the past six months on account of its current financial rough patch. Cryptologic is beginning to turn around its finances as is evident by the announcement of a new super hero slot game with a time period that is to be determined.

Vegas Technology

On the other hand, Vegas Technology has been releasing games at a rate of one per month. The games usually go live in the third or fourth week of each month without an announcement. Therefore, it is unlikely the developer will skip a month for no reason so a game should be released soon.

Rival Gaming

Additionally, Rival Gaming has not yet released any games in May but March and April had several new games. In March, Rival Gaming released four new additions to their 3D series and April saw three new video slot games. Perhaps the company has decided to take a month off with releases and begin fresh in June.

WagerWorks

Finally, WagerWorks is known to release one game per month but has been known to skip months. The developer’s last release was March 2011. Therefore, a new game should be in the works. WagerWorks has a reputation for releasing high quality games and is not known for quantity. With a lull in the action for May, it is likely June will bring many new games.

Following the successful iGaming Super Show 2010 in Prague, the second event was held Tuesday, May 24th through Thursday, May 26th in Dublin, Ireland. Hosted by publishers of iGaming Business and iGB Affiliate, the show is aimed at vendors, media, affiliates, operators and regulators. There will be multiple conference streams discussing topics such as business strategies and online marketing.

Focus on Customer Acquisition and Retention

The show featured over 100 stands where the online gambling industry will meet to conduct business and networking. The conference was separated into two with the first focusing on marketing and acquisition. The primary topic was the conflict between customer acquisition and retention. Online gaming sites acquire customers from the Internet through search engines and social networking so search engine optimization will be reviewed.

Focus on Trend and Regulation

The second conference discussed trends and regulation within the industry. Topics that were discussed include the seizure of online poker rooms in the United States on April 15th and the impact of Black Friday on business. Additionally, online gambling regulation in Canada, the European Union and Ireland was discussed. Several roundtables were devoted specifically to the situation in the United States.

Sponsors of the Show

There are many big name sponsors of the iGaming Super Show. However, the majority of sponsors are affiliate programs and operators such as, Golden Palace, Bodog Affiliates and Euro Partners. Alderney was the only regulatory body that sponsored the event. Also, the only software provider to sponsor the show is Microgaming. Payment solution provider sponsors include Paysafecard, Entropay, Neteller and Skrill.

Neteller’s Message

Neteller recently distributed an email to all account holders informing them of the upcoming Dublin iGaming Super Show 2011. Also, the affiliate team has explained their plan to increase commissions and easy methods of paying customers. Therefore, by promoting the Neteller service as a secure, reliable payment option in addition to online casino promotions, affiliates would be able to receive two commissions for one referral.

There was also quite a bit of partying occurring at the iGaming Super Show. One of the biggest events was Calvin Ayre’s 50th Birthday Bash which featured hundreds of excited participants partying at the show. Due to the success in 2010, the iGaming Super Show is growing in number of attendees and number of vendors setting up. The show is expected to improve every year in the future.

Virgin Casino is constantly running tournaments, promotions or announcing new games to play. Their most recent activity involves the Leprechaun’s Luck promotion which began on April 11th and will run until April 17th. With this promotion, players will be given two opportunities to win the Leprechaun’s Luck progressive jackpot valued at GBP 5,000. This new slot game went live April 13th.

Wagering Amounts

The total prize pool for the promotion is currently up to GBP 20,000. Therefore, players are eligible for a bonus of up to GBP 100 each day until April 17th by wagering between GBP 175 and GBP 3,500. The bonus will vary depending on the amount wagered. There will be six tiers with tier 1 for those wagering GBP 175 which will award a bonus of GBP 5. Players who bet GBP 3,500 will receive a bonus of GBP 100 and are considered to be in tier 6.

Specific Slot Game Usage

To receive these bonuses, wagering must be completed at specified slot games only. With over 20 slot games at Virgin Casino, players should not have a problem finding one that is eligible for this promotion. Players will also be able to place wagers on Leprechaun’s Luck as of April 13th. Another interesting game on the list is WagerWorks online slot game Star Trek which features all the characters from the S.S. Enterprise.

Additionally, new slot games, Bejeweled 2 and Chuzzle, from GameSys will count toward the promotion. Furthermore, many Microgaming online slot games like Avalon, Tomb Raider II, The Lord of the Rings and Hellboy are also available. Older games such as Da Vinci Diamonds, Cleopatra, Cats and Wipeout are sure to be popular throughout this bonus. The complete list of qualifying games is available on the Virgin Casino website.

Terms and Conditions

There are a few terms and conditions for taking advantage of this bonus. For each day this promotion runs, players must continuously meet the criteria to qualify for the bonus amount. Wagers placed on the previous day will not carry over. If the total prize pool diminishes prior to the 7 days, then the promotion will end prematurely. Updates will be given daily on the Virgin Casino website.

This is an excellent opportunity for players to make a large amount of extra cash. Therefore, players are advised to stop by the casino as soon as possible to take advantage of this generous offer from Virgin Casino.

Microgaming, an industry-leading online gaming software developer, recently announced the Grand Slam of Slots II mega-tournament which will occur from May 27th, 2011 to June 6th, 2011 with the popular slot game, Thunderstruck II. Until May 27th, all Microgaming-powered online casinos will conduct qualifiers. This has caused quite a stir at many casinos as players are excited about a chance for winning direct entry into the event.

The Freeroll Tournament Option

One such casino that has announced their qualifier is All Slots online casino. All pertinent information and schedules are available on the All Slots website as well as from the desktop client. There are two variants of qualifying tournaments; a freeroll and real-money entry fee. In the freeroll tournament, two players can win a seat in the main event. The entry fee to the Grand Slam of Slots II tournament is set at $200.

Each freeroll qualifying tournament will begin and end in a single day. The structure of the competition is similar to other single-round tournaments featured by All Slots casino. Players begin with 10,000 coins with a playing time of 6 minutes. Those who are knocked out can Continue Play five times at $5 each providing a stack of 9,000 coins and 5 minutes of play time.

Also, players are given the opportunity to rebuy five times at $5 each time giving them 10,000 coins and 6 minutes of playing time. Two of the more popular games designated for the freeroll qualifier are Spring Break and Tom Raider.

The Paid Qualifier Tournament Option

The paid qualifier tournament option boast an entrance fee of only $5 which is significantly less than the Grand Slam of Slots II entrance fee. The top fifteen winners in the paid qualifier competition will be awarded a seat in the main event. Therefore, the prize pool divided by the top fifteen players equates to $3,000. The structure of the paid tournament is similar to the freeroll qualifier. The difference being that this event runs for 6 days and 14 hours.

Since fifteen seats are being awarded, there is a high demand for these low-entry fee tournaments. For $5 participants will receive 16,000 chips and have a playing time of 15 minutes. There are five Continued Play options available for an additional $5, awarding players 8,000 coins and 10 minutes of play time. Rebuys also cost $5 and provide 16,000 coins and 15 minutes of play time.

Mega-tournaments and subsequent qualifiers are some of the most exciting types of tournaments in the online gaming industry. Act fast before the winners claim their seats at the Grand Slam of Slots II tournament.